Naomi Dawn Musch

The Map Quilt, Book 2 of the Buried Treasure mysteries

The Map Quilt, author Lisa Lickel's sequel to The Gold Standard, is an Spring 2012 new release from Canadian publisher MuseItUp. Join Judy and Hart and their sidekick Poncho Villa as they work to unravel the murder of Hart's boss and how Judy's ancestors were once part of the Underground Railroad.

Death in rural Wisconsin is only the beginning to new chaos in Robertsville. What do a stolen piece of revolutionary agricultural equipment, a long-buried skeleton in the yard, and an old quilt with secrets have in common? Hart and Judy Wingate, who met in The Gold Standard, are back to solve the mystery of The Map Quilt. Hart’s new battery design could forever change the farm implement industry. But after the death of Hart’s most confrontational colleague in a fire that destroys Hart’s workshop, the battery is missing. Throw in a guest speaker invited to Judy’s elementary classroom who insists she owns the land under Hart’s chief competitor’s corporate headquarters, and a police chief who’smaking eyes at Hart’s widowed mother, it’s no wonder Hart is under a ton of pressure to make sure his adventurous pregnant wife stays safe while trying to preserve his company and his reputation.

Soon to be available from

http://www.lisalickel.com

and MuseItUpPublishing

A Secrets Sunday Character Interview

Ardyth is the main secondary character in the series, and she’s quite a lot of fun. Judy’s pretty busy being nine months pregnant, and Hart is too distracted trying to keep his mom out of trouble, so Ardyth stepped in.

Hello Ardyth, welcome to Write Reason's Secret Lives of Characters. In hoping to get to know a little more about you today, can you please tell us your name and something about yourself, about your past; maybe something we won’t learn about you in the book?

Well, sweetheart, aren’t you the dearest thing? You’re so kind to let me tell a bit of my story. I’m Ardyth Genevieve Anderson Belters Edwards, Mrs. Bryce Edwards, that is. I’m a newlywed, even though I’m celebrating my seventy-seventh birthday. You can call me Mrs. Edwards. Still like the sound of that. I was born and raised right here in Robertsville, though I left for bigger adventures when I turned eighteen. I don’t regret marrying Mr. Belters as I have my dear children, Paul, Robert, and Gwen. But if Bryce and I hadn’t been so pig-headed back then,we would have settled down together…well, no use getting my dander up. We have each other now and are all the more wise.

My secret is that I once had a little, bitty crush on Judy’s great uncle Harold, Bryce’s best friend, even though I’d set my cap on Bryce. I guess it’s always abit of a thrill thinking about the other side of the fence. When Harold went on that gold-mining adventure to Alaska I couldn’t help wanting desperately to go along. Then Bryce announced he was going and they made that -- that bet! That was the limit. Good-bye, adios, and farewell.

Did you have any later regrets about that?

It’s no secret that I regret not getting Bryce’s last letter from Alaska, though of course that was not my fault. A letter, Pete’s sake! Just like a man.And of course I regret my little indiscretion with the…uh… well that’s over now too. But, you see, if we hadn’t had to wait so long to get married in the first place, I wouldn’t have been so impatient to spend more time with my honey bun. (Now don’t go telling him I called him that. I’d never hear the end of it.)

*chuckling* All right, Ardyth. I won't tell. So what compelled you to want to tell your story to Ms. Lickel?

Why, that lovely woman, Julietta Barslow, of course. She’s the one who deserves the credit. I like her spunk, standing up for what’s right all these generations. And to think she came from good Christian stock. Her people never were slaves or even indentured servants. Able to care for themselves right from the get-go. Such a story she has to tell. Well, even before Julietta came to give her program to the school kids, there was the Robertsville Ladies Quilting Society, the ones who sewed that quilt in Judy’s trunk. The quilt with a map on it leading folks along theUnderground Railroad. Right through Robertsville. My husband’s family was part of that, too, you know. Good folks seeing no sense in buying and selling souls. A story like that has to be told. Julietta couldn’t have been the one who sabotaged Bryce’s business. I know we’ll get to the bottom of things. That lady is no murderer. She did help with Judy’s baby, and all. Probably saved their lives.

I see. Sounds like a lot of intrigue going on over Ms. Julietta. What was it like working with Ms. Lickel? Do the two of you have anything in common?

We have a love of the Lord in common, to be sure. We’re both go-get-em gals, though Ms. Lickel has a little trouble speaking her mind. Likes to do things sort of behind the scenes, if you catch my drift. Me, why I like the up close and personal confrontation. Say what you mean and mean what you say. So, let’s see, what else? Sure, we come from Midwest farm stock, know what it’s like to make do. And quilt. So it wasn’t hard for Judy and me to get the story out, though that young whipper snapper husband of Judy’s better learn some patience, even if he is my husband’s business partner.

Tell us about someone in the story whom you conflicted with.

That little reporter gal, Olivia Hargrove. Responsible reporting, my foot.

Why do you say that?

She had no call to go and accuse members of my family the way she did. My grandson Bryan, that’s Paul’s oldest, you know, eighteen, why he’s a good boy. Just a little misguided is all. He’ll come out right. I hope. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I like her and all, and admire the way Judy’s trying her best to get along with everyone. It must have been so difficult being an orphan, raised by Louise, dear heart that she was. What was the question? Who’s the orphan? Go on, you say? Yes, let’s.

Without giving anything away, can you give us a hint at something you learned in the course of living out your story?

I am ashamed to say that I put my desires ahead of everything and everyone else. I only wanted Bryce to be able to retire and spend more time at home. Take a vacation. He deserved it. I did, too. If only…well, let bygones be bygones. But it was my fault that I let my family down. If I hadn’t moved away from them to come back to Robertsville, maybe things wouldn’t have gotten so out of control. But, then I wouldn’t haveBryce. And it comes back around to my selfishness again. If I learned anything, it’s to trust in God’s good timing and my husband’s good sense. To be content with what we have, and take joy that I have been blessed with a second chance to be a wife that Bryce can be proud of. It’s my duty to be a better example to the young ones.

I bet many of us can relate to having done that. Was there a point in your life that you felt God had deserted you, or that He was never there in the first place?

Oh, my, yes. Seems He always has to bring you to your knees if you drift too far. Course I never doubted He was there, but sometimes He just seemed—busy, you know? Taking care of much more important stuff than me. Mr. Belters’ passing was not unexpected, really, and I was so busy raising three children I didn’t have time for feelings. Then, when they’d all been gone and I retired I wondered what I’d done my whole life. My best friend Maude died. She was younger than I. That’s what did it, you know. What brought me back home from St. Louis. Home to the church I’d known while I was growing up and friends who respected each other.

What do you hope that readers will take away with them after hearing about your life?

Don’t let stubbornness keep you from grabbing hold of the promises of God. And that’s all I’m going to say.

Very good advice, Ardyth! Do you think you’ll evercollaborate with Ms. Lickel on another book in the future in a sort of sequel? Or how about about anyone else in the story... have they implied that they’d be willing to tell more about their lives?

You don’t see that reporting gal around, do you? Olivia? Shhh… we’re ready to solve poor old Esme’s murder. She was Bryce’s aunt, though no one really knew about it. I have my suspicions, of course, about who would of done it, but Judy’s the sleuth. I’m her chief aide. If only Cat hadn’t been so reckless. Judy, dear, I think I might be a little distracted, what between Cat and my daughter Gwen, I’m a mess. That’s okay if you want to work with her some more. She’s the one who found the code and all, anyhow.

Well, Ardyth, you've given us some questions and suggestions to ponder. Thanks for coming by, and Happy Sleuthing!

Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her published novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin magazine. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer, a freelance editor, an editor at Port Yonder Press, a writing mentor, a hostess at Clash of the Titles.com, and enjoys blogging at theBarnDoor.net and ReflectionsinHindsight.wordpress.com. She loves to encourage new authors. Find her at LisaLickel.com.

 Recently I had the pleasure of speaking to a small group of young, aspiring writers, and I came away from that afternoon very inspired myself.

It was very encouraging to see young people with such a strong desire to follow their dreams. They asked me about writing, the publishing industry, marketing your work, and so many other questions—however, the main thing I took away from that moment was to get back to basics.

Yes, as authors, we strive to write the best books, and we work hard to market our name and get in touch with as many readers as we can, but are we making sure not to lose ourselves in the process? That’s what I found myself asking as I drove home. I told the students to always strive to be true to themselves and not to try to mold their work to fit a specific publisher’s wants. If they remain true to themselves and write from their hearts, they will find the right publisher who is looking for exactly what they have to offer. The search may take time, but if this is their dream to get published, I told them to persevere and not give up.

I handed out some information on writing websites, tips for writing, ideas on how to journal and some other useful starting points, and they seemed to really appreciate the help. A comment from one of the students that really impacted me was that she said—this is my dream and I’m going to make it because I’m not giving up…simple but so true, and words for every author to live by.

I’ve been writing for a long time now, and every now and then, it’s good to rock the boat and learn from young people—people who still know how to dream. I’m trying to keep that dream alive in my heart…the dream of a 15 year old sophomore student – when my English teacher so impacted my life and I knew this was IT for me. I wanted THIS. I wanted to be a writer and nothing was going to stop me. It took a while for me to get here, and I have so much further to go, but I’m here for the long haul and want to enjoy the ride and all that God has in store for my life.

Has anything inspired you lately? I’d love to hear about it.

Joanne Troppello is an author of romantic suspense novels.  She has published three books: Shadowed Remembrances, Mr. Shipley’s Governess and Bella Lucia. Currently, she is working on her new writing project, The Paradise Redeemed Series. Joanne is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. She enjoys interacting with readers at The Mustard Seed Blog.

Joanne's Blog: The Mustard Seed

Joanne on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joannetroppello

Joanne on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JoanneTroppello

Bella Lucia by Joanne Troppello

After being married for six years, Gwen and Lucas DeStefano are dealing with the pain of a childless marriage and trying to trust God for their future. On a weekend getaway to the Poconos, they attempt to relax and renew their marriage, but witness an event that turns their lives upside down. They see a body dumped in the woods while they are on a hike, and their lives become entangled in a web of suspense and God’s ultimate blessing in the form of a little baby girl named Bella Lucia. Will Gwen learn to trust God with childlike faith and wholeheartedly accept His plan?

Det. Marc Abrams is assigned to the murder investigation of Sabrina Reysen, and he will do whatever it takes to find her killer. He has his suspicions and is pleasantly surprised when he meets Samantha “Sam” Collins, the attractive US Marshall assigned to protect one of the witnesses in this case. Will Det. Abrams find the killer before it’s too late, and is the attraction between him and Sam strong enough to survive?

Purchase Link for Bella Lucia

I'm not very far along into this thing of building a platform, making a name, spreading my influential tentacles. But I've tread far enough to notice that finding an audience is akin to hunting for an Easter Basket. If you're a fairly unknown author, you have to ferret out readers. Now and then someone might stumble upon you, but not for a while.

To do this, I have found the most effective way is also one of the most time-consuming. That's blogging. Of course, we're all told we should have a blog to build our presence, and the first overwhelming thought is to wonder what to blog about. I started my blog slowly, several years ago and haven't run out of things to say. Be patient. Give it time. Write. The themes will come to you.

But even more effective seems to be the inch by inch method of guest posting on other blogs, and inviting others to guest on mine.

So far, so good. Now to the big point.

Here's where blogging pays off. When you start to find a niche, capitalize on it. If you're a great cook, or a fly-fisherman, or are interested in race cars or horticulture, use those interests to become informative. Offer something to others in your niche. Then spread your fingers wide, being creative in the niche.

Here's what I mean. I love the outdoors. I live a country life, and I've found that most of my fiction will somehow always include element of country living and outdoor life. Whether in an historical or contemporary context, the outdoors creeps in. So if I'm guest writing on someone else's blog, it works to my advantage to share helpful information about the outdoors, be it my joy of gardening, canning, hiking, shooting, camping, identifying trees, canoeing, photographing scenery, farming, or any number of other outdoor topics. I use the things I've done, the lifestyle I'm familiar with, to educate or entertain others.

And here's how the finger-spreading into many pies works (how word gets around). When you have something either interesting or informative to offer, s  l  o w  l  y, more opportunities will crop up. You'll pique the interest of folks out there by something you've said, and they'll invite you to say more. An editor of a well-known website or magazine will invite you to write for them, or you may catch the attention of an agent. Your writing style will get sharper, you'll develop knacks for meeting deadlines and churning more ideas, you'll hone your craft, and one door will just keep leading to the next.

All good stuff.

So determine your niche. Maybe you have several. Narrow down your favorites to one or two and see how the others fit in. Then plan to write about those things in ways that inform. When you blog, try to come up with tantalizing headlines -- something that invites a reader to look further into it and not past it. That's a skill in itself.

Where do you tell people about your posts?

Cross-promote on other writing loops and pages, of course. But don't stop there. If you are writing about niches such as building or jogging or child-development, find sites, loops, or Facebook pages unique to those activities that might be interesting in knowing about your blog. For instance, for a recent post I had on springtime adventure and wildlife in my region, I posted a link and a comment on a state outdoor page on Facebook, and drew readers. Twitter is great for finding new audiences if you use hash tags to specialize your search.

For my niche, I search out other Wisconsin outdoor lovers, people who are into history, gals who enjoy home-making, blog sites where farming is popular, and so on. I use my posts to also give small promotion to my fiction, tying it in somehow, or by just making mention that I am the author of the Empire in Pine series, or a novella Heart Not Taken, and so on. Because that's the point, isn't it? To offer something helpful to others while letting them know more about your work?

Marketing doesn’t happen overnight. But if you work at it by inches, offering something beyond your books, your name will get out there.

Write on!

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When I first started writing Christian Romance, I faced the dilemma that many Christian Romance writers face. Are there rules when it comes to writing in this genre? If so, what happens if I break them? I want my books to be honoring to God and for readers to be able to identify with the characters. Yet, I don’t want to alienate readers who might think my books push too far.

Fairly soon, I found out that there are some general, unwritten rules about what can and cannot be included in a Christian Romance book. Here’s a few of the common ones:

1.      No graphic sex scenes

2.      No titillating romance scenes

3.      No cursing

Some publishers go further, stating that if there are sex scenes, they can only be between a husband and wife or that there simply can’t be any sex scenes at all.

If only life was this sanitized!

Since my goal is to write about realistic and relatable characters that grow, I find it almost impossible not to bend some of these rules. Think about it. How many women in your church group have been divorced, raped, engaged in pre-marital sex, or were involved in an adulterous affair? No matter how strong our faith and our commitment to God is, we still live in the real world with real heartache and real temptations.

In order to reach out to hurting women and show the amazing love of God, I sometimes break the unwritten rules of Christian Romance. I don’t bend the rules for the sake of being a rebel. Instead, I want to create a story that makes it easy for women who have suffered to identify with the characters and to experience God’s restoration through the eyes of those characters.

I think it is still important to remember that many readers seek out Christian Romance for the safety of these rules. So, even when bending therules, it’s important to be very cognizant of word choices and tone. I don’t describe controversial scenes in great detail. I usually use euphemisms and the art of implying a certain action.

One way to make sure a scene doesn’t go too far is to ask some trusted friends or other authors to give their opinion on the scene. I suggest getting several people to read it and give their feedback, since each person is coming from a different place.

So, what can happen if you bend the rules? Some readers will leave negative reviews. Some might accuse the author of not being a Christian. Others might be turned off by the writing. But, others might be touched in a deep way, like one reader who sent me an email after reading one of my books where the main character was raped. She said, “I was finally able to forgive the man who raped me over 30 years ago.”

Ultimately, the decision to bend the rules in Christian Romance is up to the writer. I believe if a writer is truly seeking God’s direction for the story, He will prompt the author to adjust accordingly. Our job as writers is to listen.

Karen Baney writes Christian historical and contemporary romance novels. When she’s not busy writing, she enjoys traveling the state of Arizona with her husband, exploring museums and the picturesque landscapes the state has to offer. Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs.

Visit Karen at her website: http://www.karenbaney.com or on Facebook or Twitter. Her books are available on Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/karenbaney.  Visit her special blog for authors at http://www.everythingauthor.com.

Do you ever feel insignificant and wonder if anyone would notice if you disappeared? On the other hand do you struggle with thinking too highly of yourself? The following verses in Romans teach us proper self esteem. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned. For as we have many members and the members do not have the same function.” Rom. 12: 3-4

Pride comes so easily to us, but so does poor self esteem. Neither extreme brings good mental health. So what’s the answer? In the next few verses the Apostle Paul launches into an explanation of spiritual gifts, and I believe that forms an excellent basis for a balanced view of ourselves.

Think about it. God gives every believer a gift. No one gets left out.

Furthermore your gift may be mercy, but it will have a different slant than others in the church. You’ll be uniquely gifted to do a job no one else can do the way you can in the time and place you live. Even more than that, when you exercise your gift, you become a vital part of the whole church—a necessary cog in the workings of the machinery. Should you fail to use your gift, the church will lose the special ability to touch the world as God planned. Imagine your body deprived of an eye, or even the big toe. Doubtless you’d miss either one.

Let’s revisit the verse above. Paul taught each believer in Rome “…not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think…” In other words, he’s saying not to be proud. A prideful person would think of himself as the entire machine. Nothing would happen without him, and we all know that’s not true. That’s disobeying this verse—he’s not that important. But if a believer sees himself as a vital part of the machine, or the body of Christ, that’s healthy. He’s valuable and has something to offer. Paul continues Romans twelve this way, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them…”

Do you battle with thoughts of insecurity? Discover and use your spiritual gift. Do you combat pride? View yourself as a member of God’s church with a vital role to play. The church needs us all, working together for God’s kingdom.

What’s wrong with our world? Shouldn’t a God who claims to be all powerful and flawless prevent suffering? How can we continue to believe when storms rage on in our lives? If you’ve ever had tough questions like these Struggles and Triumphs Study Guide is the book for you. Author Cynthia L. Simmons will guide you toward answers with her unique and enlightening approach. Her twelve-week Bible study for ladies comes from stories of real women as told in Struggles and Triumphs: Women in History Who Overcame. As you study, you’ll come to understand God’s perspective on timeless issues that impact your life. The carefully chosen Scriptures combined with interesting historical information will challenge and encourage you. 

Cynthia L Simmons and her husband, Ray, have five children and reside in Atlanta. She has taught for over twenty years as a homeschool mother and Bible teacher. Active in Christian Authors Guild (CAG), she conducts writing workshops and has served as president, vice president, and conference director. In December 2009 the membership granted her Life Time Membership for her numerous contributions to writers. “Cindy” is fond of history and writes both historical fiction and nonfiction. Her writing appeared in CAG publications, NATHHAN NEWS, Chattanooga Regional Historical Magazine, Georgia Right to Life Newsletter, Chattanooga Times Free Press, Catholic Exchange, and ChristianDevotions.us. Her first book, Struggles and Triumphs, came out in 2008. While promoting her book, she had interviews on radio and TV across the nation and was nominated for 2008 Georgia Author of the year. She also conducts monthly podcasts called CAG Spotlight in which she interviews authors and VIPs in the writing industry. At present she is completing a twelve week Bible study using the stories in Struggles and Triumphs.

clsimmons.com

More Love and Laughter from New York Times Bestselling Author

Margaret Brownley

“I’ve matched up twenty-three couples over the years and in all that time I only made one error. Although I still think the marriage would have worked had she not shot her husband.”

—From Dawn Comes Early (Brides of Last Chance Ranch)

 “Daily Reasons to Smile” Contest

Characters from Margaret’s new book will send you a reason to smile every day until April11th. Join in the fun and you could win a book, potted cactus (the story takes place in Arizona Territory) or an iPod Nano and alarm clock docking station. To enter send an email to info@NancyBerland.com. Be sure to put “Reason to Smile” in the subject line. That’s it!

AND NOW...

Meet Kate Tenney (Disgraced dime novelist and Heroine of Margaret’s Latest book “Dawn Comes Early,” the first book in The Brides of Last Chance Ranch series.)

Hello Kate, welcome to Secret Lives of Characters on this Secrets Sunday. Can you please tell us something about yourself, about your past; maybe something we won’t learn about you in the book?

Born and raised in Boston I’m a college-educated woman. I learned at an early age that you can’t rely on people—especially men. I longed for something in my life that was permanent and so I put my stock in land and education.  I figured no one could take away my education and land was about as permanent as you can get. I was set for life.  Or so I thought.    

Hmm... Sounds like you definitely have some trust issues. What about regret? Do you have any profound regrets in your past that you wouldn’t mind sharing with those who might read your story?

I regret having burned down the apartment house when I was ten. 

That must have been horrifying! Sounds like you've lived through some interesting experiences. What compelled you to want to tell your story to Margaret? (Did she approach you, or did you approach her?)

Margaret has a habit of reading old newspapers (don’t ask me why).  Anyway, she read an article about a bunch of ladies of the First Church of Milford in New York who decided to form a society of old maids in 1861. Each member vowed she would not marry. Each woman paid five dollars on admission with the principal going to the one who remained unmarried the longest.  Thirty years later all but fifteen of the original had married. After reading that article Margaret came to me and asked if I would be willing to sign a legal document forbidding me to marry in return for inheriting a huge cattle ranch in Arizona territory.  Naturally, I said yes. Land is permanent; men are not. Land was something on which I could put my trust; it would never let me down.

There go those trust issues again. They must have been indelible for you to be willing to sign such a document. Still, it must have taken a good deal of trust to tell your story to someone. What was it like working with Margaret? Do the two of you have anything in common?

We’re both writers which meant we battled constantly over storyline.  She wanted to do it her way but my way was best. Would you believe she wanted to kill me off!  I put my foot down and insisted upon a happy ending.

Well, that's good. You had me worried. Tell us about someone in the story whom you felt, or still feel conflicted with. Who is it, and why do you think that is?

I was deserted by my father and grandfather.  My mother deserted me too, if not physically, at least emotionally.  My early years taught me never to trust anyone and that caused me great pain. Margaret wanted me to forgive and forget but that’s easier said than done. This is one area where we had to compromise.  

Oh, desertion. That would definitely be difficult to overcome. Without giving anything away, can you give us a hint at something you learned in the course of living out your story? Or --  if possible -- without spilling the beans, can you tell us anything about how you felt, or what led to the darkest moment you can recall?

The biggest shock of my life was learning that nothing is permanent except God. 

Was there a point in your life that you felt God had deserted you, or that He was never there in the first place?

I felt this way pretty much all my life. Mama used to say that good things don’t happen to the likes of us, and I believed her. Of course that was before I met the people of Cactus Patch, Arizona.

I'm curious to read your story, and to find out about that hope those folks gave you. What do you hope that readers will take away with them after hearing about your life?

Anything as long as it’s not that handsome blacksmith Luke Adams. He’s mine, all mine!

*Chuckle*

Well, then, if you could say one more thing to someone in the story, someone whom you don’t know if or when you’d meet again, to whom would it be and what would you like them to know?

I would look my Mama in the eye and say, “You were wrong. Good things do happen to the likes of us as long as you open your heart to God.”

Do you think you’llever collaborate with Margaret on another book in the future, a sequel perhaps?

One thing I learned through this process is that I’d much rather write my own books than help Margaret with hers.

What about anyone else in the story... have they implied that they’d be willing to tell more about their lives?

Luke’s busy-body Aunt Bessie considers herself a woman of the world (or at least of Cactus Patch). Good luck trying to keep her nose out of future books.

Well, Kate, thank you for the insights, and for sharing a little bit about your Secret Life.

Thank you for having me. By the way I can be reached through Margaret’s website:

www.margaretbrownley.com

Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this—except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."          

So that’s what Margaret did. She’s now a New York Times best selling author and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist with more than 25 novels to her credit.

In addition to her new book Dawn Comes Early, Margaret’s also excited to announce that her non-fiction book Grieving God’s Way: The Path to Hope and Healing will be published in July—not bad for someone who flunked 8th grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

Don't forget to enter Margaret's "Daily Reasons to Smile" Contest and Write On!

Well, the results are in. My experiment on using a re-pinning contest on Pinterest to spread the word about my novels worked out pretty well. It didn't go quite as viral as I'd hoped it might, but I definitely had a lot more involvement than I have on the "leave-a-comment-on-the-blog-post" contests I've done in the past.

Some of the pinners I recognized as friends or fellow authors, and quite a few others were new to me. This told me that there was interest. For those whom I didn't recognize, it gave me the opportunity to follow their pinboards back, identifying people who might be interested in knowing more about my works in the future.

One last minute thing that helped was ferreting out the actual Pinterest groups pages I could find on Facebook and notifying them of the contest. And of course, I had to repeat announcements about the event over and over on my other group pages and on Twitter.

I will definitely do this again sometime, or try other variations of it as I dream them up. Take a look at the "pin board" I set up for the contest to see how I set it up. And if you have further questions about how I operated the contest, please leave it in the comments. I'll be happy to explain. 

Write on!

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Today I'm pleased to introduce to you Because of Me, a new novel by Fay Lamb, as well as an interview with the novel's protagonist, Issie Putnam.

Because of Me

Not your typical Christian fiction.

Michael’s fiancée, Issie Putnam, was brutally attacked, and Michael was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. Now he’s home to set things right. Two people stand in his way: Issie’s son, Cole, and a madman. Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her heart and protect him from the man who took everything from Michael so long ago?

Character Interview:

Please welcome Issie Putnam.

Issie, I'd like to begin by asking you,what's the most important thing in your life?

My son, Cole Michael Putnam. Everyone in my life—everyone but my father and my wonderful friends, Rhonda Hayes and Matilda Reilly—told me to abort Cole. My brother-in-law told me no one should be forced to keep a child conceived the way Cole was conceived. I shudder at the thought. How much would I have missed without my precious son by my side?

That's true. There's nothing more precious than a child. What then, if I may ask, is the biggest fear in your life?

I have two major fears: losing Cole and never having Michael Hayes back in my life.

Cole's middle name is Michael. Is he named after Michael Hayes?

His middle name yes. Michael's mother, Rhonda, wanted me to give Cole Michael's full name, but Michael didn't know about Cole. I did decide to give him the middle name of Michael because somehow it comforted me. I've missed Michael Hayes for so long.

You said Michael didn't know about Cole. What did you expect his reaction to be upon meeting your son and realizinng he wasn't Cole's father?

Well, first off, Michael couldn't be Cole's father. Michael was like every teenage boy. He tried on occasion, but he was also honorable. All I had to do was say, "no" once, and Michael would back away with a teasing smile. As far as Michael meeting Cole, I expect him to blame himself for what happened to me, but I know my Michael. I expect him to take awhile to come around, but I believe he will come to love Cole. Michael's father left him when he was young, and Michael never got over that fact. Cole has never had a father.

How does it feel to know that your life could have been different if you and Michael had not fallen into the trap set for you, the trap that pulled the two of you a part?

With all that's within me, I wish Michael had not been sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. But let's get one thing straight—I don't blame Michael for any of this. Tom Jervis and Kip Turner's actions pulled me from Michael's grasp that night and nothing else. Still, when I look back and I try to think of life as it could have been, there's someone special, a little boy that I love more than life itself, and if things had happened differently, Cole wouldn't have been. And that thought makes me sadder than anything Michael or I have endured.

I haven't read it yet, but Because of Me sounds like a heart-wrenching story of honor and choices and finding a way back to love. Thank you, Issie, for allowing readers a glimpse into your life, and to Fay Lamb for introducing you here on Write Reason.

Because of Me is available through all fine book retailers, Amazon.com, and Mountainview Publishing, a division of Treble Heart Books.

Purchase the book at Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Because-of-Me-ebook/dp/B00722KIME/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327670357&sr=8-1

Or at Treble Heart Books at: www.trebleheartbooks.com/MVLamb.html

Fay Lamb works as an acquisition/copyeditor for Pelican Book Group (White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books), offers her services as a freelance editor, and is an author of Christian romance and romantic suspense. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details. Because of Me, her debut, romantic, suspense novel is soon to be released by Treble Heart Books/Mountainview Publishing.

Fay has a passion for working with and encouraging fellow writers. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she co-moderates the large Scribes’ Critique Group and manages the smaller Scribes’critique groups. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the ACFW Members Service Award in 2010.

In 2012, Fay was also elected to serve as secretaryon ACFW’s Operating Board.

Fay and her husband, Marc, reside in Titusville, Florida, where multi-generations of their families have lived. The legacy continues with their two married sons and five grandchildren.

There are two kinds of drama. There's drama that spellbinds us, makes us shiver, shriek, or swoon. It's the kind that wins awards for its creators. Then there's the drama that makes us roll our eyes, change the channel, close the book, walk away, and (maybe with a bit of a Brooklyn accent) say, "Drama, drama, drama. Who needs more drama?"  That's schlock.

In Jerry Jenkins book Writing for the Soul he talks about the time Dr. Tim LeHaye shared with him the kernel of a story idea, a simple snapshot of a scene, which started to grow, and eventually resulted in the plot-buster Left Behind series. As Jenkins listened to the idea, he loved it. But he worried that "there was a fine line between drama and schlock." As the idea materialized, he realized that one of their challenges would clearly be to not write schlock.

Schlock is over the top, while at the same time being inferior.  It's melodramatic.  When I think of melodrama, I recall some of the first stuff I wrote as a teen. Now, if you're a teen reading this, take heart. I don't think all teen writers are full of angst and write about weird, tragic stuff. But I guess I did. You know -- doomed romance, the kind where the heroine might throw herself off a cliff. I failed real drama because I tried to force tension and emotion, and probably relied on adjectives and adverbs to do it.

But Jenkins is right. The line between the two dramatic types is not always so obvious, but very fine indeed. Every story -- in fact-- every scene holds the potential to become melodramatic. To know for sure, writers need to step back from the picture and ask themselves questions. Are the verbs clean and expressive? Is the writing tight? Is the dialogue and are the character's actions realistic to the situation, or are they over the top? Does the plot tug at our imaginations while being believable, even if it's fantastic? Or is it written with enough depth to suspend, or even dispell, disbelief?

These days and a few decades later, I hope I'm not letting melodrama slip by me. But if even a writer with clout like Jerry Jenkins pauses to consider whether a glimpse into one small scene carries the potential for schlock, then I'd better sit up and take notice of what comes across in my own stories. Because what I'm after is drama that will grip and hold readers, not make them smirk.

How about you?

Write on.

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/7m5a5ah

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/3gelmzp

Desert Breeze / Other Formats: http://tinyurl.com/43jbuvd

It's very, nearly Spring. And appropriately, I'm bursting with fresh ideas. One bloomed today in fact. It's an idea for a Spring Contest. I haven't given away a free book in a long time, but I really, really want to! And not one book in particular, but a book of the winner's choice - either my contemporary novella Heart Not Taken, or either of the first two books in my Empire in Pine historical series: The Green Veil, or The Red Fury.

The contest is easy-peasy. The only catch is that you have to be on Pinterest to get involved. If you're a Pinterest junkie, here it is.

PIN IT TO WIN IT!

TO WIN A FREE BOOK go to my board "Books Worth Writing -- So I did" here: http://pinterest.com/nmusch/books-worth-writing-so-i-did/ Select at least one of the 3 E-books shown (The Green Veil, The Red Fury, or Heart Not Taken) and re-pin it to one of your boards ALONG WITH THESE INSTRUCTIONS copied & pasted in the comments box. As soon as I receive notification of your pin, I'll enter you in a drawing for the book of your choice. I will draw a winner on March 20th, the first day of spring. Happy Pinning -- oh -- and Happy Spring!

Available in a variety of formats wherever e-books are sold or through the publishers:

The Green Veil & The Red Fury (Desert Breeze Publishing): http://tinyurl.com/43jbuvd

Heart Not Taken (Black Lyon Publishing): http://tinyurl.com/7l3jh4b